A blog about food and travel. Experiencing food around the globe.

Eating lizards on sticks and other Chinese delicacies

Though I’ll try almost any food once, I’ve always been adamant that I draw the line at insects. That is, until I ate my first grub earlier this year. (Tasted like cartilage!)

Since then, I must admit that I somewhat regret not having taken full advantage of the plethora of weird and wonderful at Beijing’s Donghuamen Night Food Street on my last visit to China.

But whether or not you’re an adventurous eater, die-hard foodies can’t miss this famous snack street at the northern end of Wangfujing Pedestrian Street and Dong’anmen Street. The sights alone are a spectacle to behold.

Plus, the menu is conveniently bilingual so you know exactly what you’re getting, in case there happened to be any confusion.

The Donghuamen Night Food Street is open from 6:00pm (perhaps even earlier) to 9:00pm every day, and apparently it is fairly hygienic (though I can’t vouch for that!)

And if that’s not enough for you, just down the road near the Beijing Tourist Information Centre you’ll find the Wangfujing Snack Street. I saw these lovely scorpions there, skewered and still wriggling.

If you’re an adventurous eater and you find yourself in Beijing, skip the Peking duck. THIS is the place to titillate your palate and channel your inner Bear Grylls, minus the long treks and dehydration.

Donghuamen Night Food Street (东华门美食坊夜市)
Located on Dong’anmen Street, to the west of the crossroad at the northern tip of Wangfujing Pedestrian Street
Dongcheng District
Beijing, China